Heavy Lies the Helmet

What happens when resources are limited, transport is delayed, or you’re forced to manage a critically ill patient far beyond the typical flight window? In this podcast episode, Dr. Tim Hurtado and Brett Weiner help us dive into the challenges and realities of prolonged field care in air medical transport. We’ll explore clinical considerations, crew dynamics, and decision-making strategies that can help you maintain high-quality ca...

Tranexamic Acid (TXA) is a lot like hot sauce: People put it on everything — especially for apparent or suspected acute blood loss. In this podcast episode, we dive into a drug that’s been both praised and questioned in trauma and prehospital care. We break down what TXA is, how it works, and the evidence behind its use. From CRASH-2 to CRASH-3, we explore the key studies, the controversies, and the real-world implications. Whether...

Though evidence dictates much of what we do as emergency medical providers, some areas remain open to debate: How are we justifying stroke ambulances, CCT speciality teams, AHA guidelines, and our choice of crystalloids? How are we justifying what professionals are allowed to post on social media? And do we agree with the currently accepted norms?

Who better to join...

Wet or dry. ...

'Tis the season for trauma. (If there truly is a season.) Chest trauma, specifically, can vary in subtlety and severity, primarily due to the presence of multiple vital organs and vessels. In this podcast, we discuss these potentials while focusing on those injuries that are associated with the highest mortality rate. We also discuss why you should think twice before intervening.

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Does your patient have high blood pressure? Are they seizing or showing other signs of a neurological disorder? It could be PRES! Unfortunately, Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is difficult to diagnose unless you are aware of its existence. In this podcast episode, we discuss this infrequent condition and how can you appropriately diagnose and treat it.

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Do certifications accurately reflect an individual's qualifications? This is an ongoing argument depending on what side of the exam you are on. How much value should we on that piece of paper? And, regardless, how do we work towards obtaining and maintaining qualifications? In this podcast episode, we discuss it all including Dunning-Kruger Effect and Hierachy of Competence. We also delve into teaching strategies that can help newc...

Previously, we recorded a podcast episode about the utility surrounding Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS). In this episode, we apply that knowledge to specific case scenarios as a continuation of our "Breaking the Case" series. We also ask the question, is POCUS really all it's cracked up to be, or should we be re-thinking our approach, particularly in the prehospital setting?

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Humans are easy. That's why we are able to do what we do as prehospital providers. But what happens when your patient is a canine? These working dogs are highly regarded by their handlers and require care just like anyone else that may be ill or injured. Considering that, are you equipped to care for them? If not, how can you successfully start and maintain a K9 program at your agency?

Tune in to another podcast to discuss this uni...

It can be difficult to determine whether you should treat undifferentiated hypertension or not. Many clinicians are distracted the number rather than focusing on the patient in front of them. Asymptomatic hypertension, in particular, is often benign. In fact, treating asymptomatic hypertension in a patient who a primary medical history of hypertension can harm them.

In this podcast, we discuss these adverse effects related to blood...

The principles of preoxygenation and passive oxygenation should be familiar to any experienced intubator. Best practice recommends the use of a nasal cannula in conjunction with either a non-rebreather mask or bag-valve mask (BVM) to prevent hypoxemia during the apneic phase of Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI).

In the PREOXI Trial, the authors pushed this concept further, questioning whether non-invasive positive pressure ventilatio...

Not all cardiac arrests are created equal. Whether the presenting rhythm is asystole, ventricular fibrillation, or PEA, these patients require tailored interventions beyond "blanket" protocol and ACLS/PALS algorithms. When refractory to conventional therapy, the pulseless V-Tach/V-Fib patient, in particular, requires critical thinking "outside the box" in order to gain ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) and preserve neurologi...

Interfacility transfers are not always indicated at the time and place of which they are being requested. Whether it's referring provider misinformation or a lack of advocacy by the transport agency, these transfers can result in unnecessary risk for crew members and patients. Specifically, weather conditions, time of day, crew fatigue, and other important factors are not always considered when blindly accepting these transfers. As...

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) plays an essential part in the body's osmotic/fluid balance, sodium homeostasis, and blood pressure regulation. This hormone is synthesized in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary gland. In conditions such as Diabetes Insipidus (DI) and Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH (SIADH), there is a lack of synthesis or over-production of this hormone which results in negative downstream effects.

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Angioedema is defined by upper airway swelling secondary to an immune response. The trigger and subsequent physiological response are how we categorize it. In this podcast, we discuss how to diagnose and treat both types: IgE/Histamine-mediated and Bradykinin-mediated. We also touch on how to address the difficult airway that may or may not lead to intubation. All in all, do not fear angioedema but respect it.

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When discussing methylene blue, management and treatment of methaemoglobinaemia is usually the first indication mentioned. But in this podcast, we challenge you to increase the size of your lense and focus on its benefits in other states (e.g., septic shock). Of course, we could not do this alone, so we invited a Flight Paramedic, Pharmacist, Toxicologist, and Professor to join us. And fortunately for us, they are all the same pers...

Though we have delved into foreign HEMS systems in the past (See Episode 61 – Down Under Dynamics w/Dr. Cliff Reid), we have not dedicated an entire series to it. Having now rubbed shoulders with many clinicians and operators around the world, it is evident that these conversations need to take place on a regular basis. Why? Because operating in a vacuum can lead to bad decision making. Our new "Around the World" series attempts to...

"Self-loading baggage" is a derogatory term often used by pilots to describe lazy or disengaged medical crew members in the air medical industry. Whether intentional or not, this behavior sets a bad precedent for those of us that want to embrace aviation cross-training and be able to assist the pilot effectively.

In this podcast episode, we are joined by pilots Miles Dunagan and Brett Reeder to discuss how pilots and clinicians ali...

The Russo-Ukrainian War is an ongoing international conflict between Russia and Ukraine. At times such as these, medical training is essential and sometimes required of laypersons. International Medical Corps partnered with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) to provide comprehensive emergency and trauma care training to healthcare workers, public safety professionals, and the Ukrainian community. Course Coordinator Kevin Col...